Method, system and program product for perceiving and computing emotions

ABSTRACT

A method, system and program product comprise monitoring inputs, into a system, for detected actions from a user. At least one detected action is identified. At least a first database storage location associated with the user is accessed. The first database storage location is at least configured for storage of emotional profiles of the user. At least a second storage location associated with the system is accessed. The second storage location is at least configured for storage of emotional profiles of the system. The at least one detected action is processed in a computational machine using data from the first storage location to determine a status of the user. A response to the status of the user is calculated. The response is at least in part determined by the status of the user and data contained in the second storage location.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. utility patentapplication Ser. No. 14/254,276, filed on 16 Apr. 2014, which claimspriority benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the U.S. provisionalapplication for patent Ser. No. 61/812,260, entitled “A SYSTEM ANDMETHOD FOR PERCEIVING AND COMPUTING EMOTIONS” and having a filing dateof 5 Jul. 2013. The contents of this related provisional application areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes to the extent thatsuch subject matter is not inconsistent herewith or limiting hereof.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office,patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to artificialintelligence. More particularly, the invention relates to discerningand/or responding to emotion using artificial intelligence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following background information may present examples of specificaspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts,or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educatethe reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to beconstrued as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof,to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

One key aspect in creating effective and useful artificial intelligencemay be an ability to convert a general computational machine into anintegrated system with human emotional capabilities. Currently, suchemotions may often be conveyed by a system in a largely static manner inwhich a device, robot, or avatar may react to a program which mayprovide commands for built-in mimics of emotions. These systems may noteffectively provide a system and/or method that may be capable ofperceiving and computing emotions in machines and/or users. A solutionwhich did so would be desirable.

In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniquesare not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary device for running embodimentsoftware, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary system for providing improvedcomputational response to user input, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary visual display of data asprocessed by a cube 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary internal system of a cube 100and/or associated devices, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary method for registering cube100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary display of visual emotionaldetection, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary method for performingartificial intelligence, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary emotion processing unit andassociated internal systems, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary client/server systemwhich may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram depicting a conventionalclient/server communication system.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailedfigures and description set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to theFigures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatthe detailed description given herein with respect to these figures isfor explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limitedembodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled inthe art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention,recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, dependingupon the needs of the particular application, to implement thefunctionality of any given detail described herein, beyond theparticular implementation choices in the following embodiments describedand shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations ofthe invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit withinthe scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read asplural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, whereappropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply thatthe two are mutually exclusive.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limitedto the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturingtechniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary.It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used forthe purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is notintended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be notedthat as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is areference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof knownto those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a referenceto “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or meansand may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions usedare to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, theword “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical“or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the contextclearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to beunderstood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.Language that may be construed to express approximation should be sounderstood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods,techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods,techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein may be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention. Structures described herein are to be understood also torefer to functional equivalents of such structures. The presentinvention will now be described in detail with reference to embodimentsthereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modificationswill be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations andmodifications may involve equivalent and other features which arealready known in the art, and which may be used instead of or inaddition to features already described herein.

Although Claims have been formulated in this application to particularcombinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of thedisclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature orany novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly orimplicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates tothe same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or notit mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does thepresent invention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments mayalso be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely,various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of asingle embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitablesubcombination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims may beformulated to such features and/or combinations of such features duringthe prosecution of the present application or of any further applicationderived therefrom.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,”“various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of theinvention so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” donot necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken aslimiting the disclosure in any way.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of theitems are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

Devices or system modules that are in at least general communicationwith each other need not be in continuous communication with each other,unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or systemmodules that are in at least general communication with each other maycommunicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required. Onthe contrary a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the presentinvention.

As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerationsand compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimalmanufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and inparticular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercialimplementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of thepresent invention may configured according to the needs of theparticular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s),result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachingsrelated to any described embodiment of the present invention may besuitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improvedand/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skillsand known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation thataddresses the needs of the particular application.

In the following description and claims, the terms “coupled” and“connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should beunderstood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other.Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicatethat two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contactwith each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are indirect physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also meanthat two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, butyet still cooperate or interact with each other.

A “computer” may refer to one or more apparatus and/or one or moresystems that are capable of accepting a structured input, processing thestructured input according to prescribed rules, and producing results ofthe processing as output. Examples of a computer may include: acomputer; a stationary and/or portable computer; a computer having asingle processor, multiple processors, or multi-core processors, whichmay operate in parallel and/or not in parallel; a general purposecomputer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super mini-computer; amini-computer; a workstation; a micro-computer; a server; a client; aninteractive television; a web appliance; a telecommunications devicewith internet access; a hybrid combination of a computer and aninteractive television; a portable computer; a tablet personal computer(PC); a personal digital assistant (PDA); a portable telephone;application-specific hardware to emulate a computer and/or software,such as, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), an application specific instruction-set processor(ASIP), a chip, chips, a system on a chip, or a chip set; a dataacquisition device; an optical computer; a quantum computer; abiological computer; and generally, an apparatus that may accept data,process data according to one or more stored software programs, generateresults, and typically include input, output, storage, arithmetic,logic, and control units.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that where appropriate, someembodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in network computingenvironments with many types of computer system configurations,including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Whereappropriate, embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by local and remote processingdevices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, orby a combination thereof) through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote memory storage devices.

“Software” may refer to prescribed rules to operate a computer. Examplesof software may include: code segments in one or more computer-readablelanguages; graphical and or/textual instructions; applets; pre-compiledcode; interpreted code; compiled code; and computer programs.

The example embodiments described herein can be implemented in anoperating environment comprising computer-executable instructions (e.g.,software) installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination ofsoftware and hardware. The computer-executable instructions can bewritten in a computer programming language or can be embodied infirmware logic. If written in a programming language conforming to arecognized standard, such instructions can be executed on a variety ofhardware platforms and for interfaces to a variety of operating systems.Although not limited thereto, computer software program code forcarrying out operations for aspects of the present invention can bewritten in any combination of one or more suitable programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming languages and/orconventional procedural programming languages, and/or programminglanguages such as, for example, Hyper text Markup Language (HTML),Dynamic HTML, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Extensible StylesheetLanguage (XSL), Document Style Semantics and Specification Language(DSSSL), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Synchronized MultimediaIntegration Language (SMIL), Wireless Markup Language (WML), Java™,Jini™, C, C++, Smalltalk, Perl, UNIX Shell, Visual Basic or Visual BasicScript, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), ColdFusion™ or othercompilers, assemblers, interpreters or other computer languages orplatforms.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

A network is a collection of links and nodes (e.g., multiple computersand/or other devices connected together) arranged so that informationmay be passed from one part of the network to another over multiplelinks and through various nodes. Examples of networks include theInternet, the public switched telephone network, the global Telexnetwork, computer networks (e.g., an intranet, an extranet, a local-areanetwork, or a wide-area network), wired networks, and wireless networks.

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and computer networksarranged to allow the easy and robust exchange of information betweencomputer users. Hundreds of millions of people around the world haveaccess to computers connected to the Internet via Internet ServiceProviders (ISPs). Content providers (e.g., website owners or operators)place multimedia information (e.g., text, graphics, audio, video,animation, and other forms of data) at specific locations on theInternet referred to as webpages. Websites comprise a collection ofconnected, or otherwise related, webpages. The combination of all thewebsites and their corresponding webpages on the Internet is generallyknown as the World Wide Web (WWW) or simply the Web.

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or blockdiagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, whichcomprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in somealternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occurout of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or theblocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the likemay be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods andalgorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In otherwords, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does notnecessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in thatorder. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in anyorder practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithmsdescribed herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmedgeneral purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor(e.g., a microprocessor) will receive instructions from a memory or likedevice, and execute those instructions, thereby performing a processdefined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement suchmethods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted using a variety ofknown media.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device/article (whether or not theycooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly,where more than one device or article is described herein (whether ornot they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a singledevice/article may be used in place of the more than one device orarticle.

The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternativelyembodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly describedas having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of thepresent invention need not include the device itself.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) which may beread by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may takemany forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatilemedia, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example,optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile mediainclude dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutesthe main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wireand fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupledto the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acousticwaves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as thosegenerated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip orcartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other mediumfrom which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such asBluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, 3G.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, (ii) other memory structures besidesdatabases may be readily employed. Any schematic illustrations andaccompanying descriptions of any sample databases presented herein areexemplary arrangements for stored representations of information. Anynumber of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested bythe tables shown. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databasesrepresent exemplary information only; those skilled in the art willunderstand that the number and content of the entries can be differentfrom those illustrated herein. Further, despite any depiction of thedatabases as tables, an object-based model could be used to store andmanipulate the data types of the present invention and likewise, objectmethods or behaviors can be used to implement the processes of thepresent invention.

A “computer system” may refer to a system having one or more computers,where each computer may include a computer-readable medium embodyingsoftware to operate the computer or one or more of its components.Examples of a computer system may include: a distributed computer systemfor processing information via computer systems linked by a network; twoor more computer systems connected together via a network fortransmitting and/or receiving information between the computer systems;a computer system including two or more processors within a singlecomputer; and one or more apparatuses and/or one or more systems thatmay accept data, may process data in accordance with one or more storedsoftware programs, may generate results, and typically may includeinput, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.

A “network” may refer to a number of computers and associated devicesthat may be connected by communication facilities. A network may involvepermanent connections such as cables or temporary connections such asthose made through telephone or other communication links. A network mayfurther include hard-wired connections (e.g., coaxial cable, twistedpair, optical fiber, waveguides, etc.) and/or wireless connections(e.g., radio frequency waveforms, free-space optical waveforms, acousticwaveforms, etc.). Examples of a network may include: an internet, suchas the Internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide areanetwork (WAN); and a combination of networks, such as an internet and anintranet.

As used herein, the “client-side” application should be broadlyconstrued to refer to an application, a page associated with thatapplication, or some other resource or function invoked by a client-siderequest to the application. A “browser” as used herein is not intendedto refer to any specific browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Safari,FireFox, or the like), but should be broadly construed to refer to anyclient-side rendering engine that can access and displayInternet-accessible resources. A “rich” client typically refers to anon-HTTP based client-side application, such as an SSH or CFIS client.Further, while typically the client-server interactions occur usingHTTP, this is not a limitation either. The client server interaction maybe formatted to conform to the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) andtravel over HTTP (over the public Internet), FTP, or any other reliabletransport mechanism (such as IBM® MQSeries®technologies and CORBA, fortransport over an enterprise intranet) may be used. Any application orfunctionality described herein may be implemented as native code, byproviding hooks into another application, by facilitating use of themechanism as a plug-in, by linking to the mechanism, and the like.

Exemplary networks may operate with any of a number of protocols, suchas Internet protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and/orsynchronous optical network (SONET), user datagram protocol (UDP), IEEE802.x, etc.

Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses forperforming the operations disclosed herein. An apparatus may bespecially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise ageneral-purpose device selectively activated or reconfigured by aprogram stored in the device.

Embodiments of the invention may also be implemented in one or acombination of hardware, firmware, and software. They may be implementedas instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be readand executed by a computing platform to perform the operations describedherein.

More specifically, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art,aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method orcomputer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present inventionmay take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirelysoftware embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code,etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that mayall generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or“system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in one or more computerreadable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodiedthereon.

In the following description and claims, the terms “computer programmedium” and “computer readable medium” may be used to generally refer tomedia such as, but not limited to, removable storage drives, a hard diskinstalled in hard disk drive, and the like. These computer programproducts may provide software to a computer system. Embodiments of theinvention may be directed to such computer program products.

An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistentsequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. Theseinclude physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, thoughnot necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical ormagnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined,compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, and as may be apparent from thefollowing description and claims, it should be appreciated thatthroughout the specification descriptions utilizing terms such as“processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” or the like,refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system,or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transformdata represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within thecomputing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computing system'smemories, registers or other such information storage, transmission ordisplay devices.

In a similar manner, the term “processor” may refer to any device orportion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/ormemory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data thatmay be stored in registers and/or memory. A “computing platform” maycomprise one or more processors.

Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may also includetangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media forcarrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structuresstored thereon. Such non-transitory computer-readable storage media canbe any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose orspecial purpose computer, including the functional design of any specialpurpose processor as discussed above. By way of example, and notlimitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media can include RAM,ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storageor other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be usedto carry or store desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions, data structures, or processor chipdesign. When information is transferred or provided over a network oranother communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, orcombination thereof) to a computer, the computer properly views theconnection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection isproperly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of the computer-readable media.

While a non-transitory computer readable medium includes, but is notlimited to, a hard drive, compact disc, flash memory, volatile memory,random access memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, semiconductorbased memory, phase change memory, optical memory, periodicallyrefreshed memory, and the like; the non-transitory computer readablemedium, however, does not include a pure transitory signal per se; i.e.,where the medium itself is transitory.

Some embodiments of the present invention may provide means and/ormethods for improved computational response to user input. Some of theseembodiments may comprise computer software. In some of theseembodiments, software may be integrated into hardware, including,without limitation, uniquely-designed hardware for running embodimentsoftware.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary device for running embodimentsoftware, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Inthe present embodiment, device may have a shape of a cube 100. In thefollowing description, “cube” may be used to refer to a device suitablefor running embodiment software. However, usage of “cube” does not limitdevice to any particular shape. In many embodiments, such devices may beany shape, including, without limitation, cube, disc, sphere,rectangular parallelepiped, free-form shape, etc.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary system for providing improvedcomputational response to user input, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention. In the present embodiment, a server 205 mayfacilitate communication between various electronic devices 210 and cube215. In some embodiments, devices 210 may utilize a variety of softwaredevelopment kit (SDK), existing protocols and libraries, including,without limitation, Unity 3D, PORTSIP, opencv, and OpenEAR. In thepresent embodiment, server 205 may communicate bi-directionally with adatabase 220 to provide ability for improved information storage.

In some embodiments, cube 100 may have memory suitable for storing userinput and/or data from other devices. In some of these embodiments, cube100 may also have means for processing stored and/or received data. In anon-limiting example, cube 100 may have an emotion processing unit (EPU)which may be loaded with emotional profile graphs (EPG). In someembodiments, cube 100 may communicate with server 205 to transmit and/orreceive data in response to various stimuli, including, withoutlimitation, environmental conditions, internal actions, externalcomputational machines, and/or user input. In a non-limiting example,cube 100 may receive information regarding user's emotional state suchas, but not limited to, extracted from the face tracking analysis, theharmonics and pitch, the words in the conversation, and transmit anappropriate response as determined by reference to memory and/orprocessing unit. In some embodiments, cube 100 may be integrated withvarious computational machines, including, without limitation, robotsand/or gaming avatars. In some of these embodiments, cube 100 maytransmit data to computational machine to control behavior ofcomputational machine. In a non-limiting example, a cube 100 maydetermine a user's emotional state at a given point in time. In thepresent non-limiting example, cube 100 may transmit data regardinguser's emotional state to an external device showing an avatar, and theavatar may then perform an action representative of user's emotionalstate. In some embodiments, cube 100 may compare received data to storeddata. In a non-limiting example, a cube 100 may compare receivedinformation regarding a user's emotional state to stored data of user'spast emotional states. In some embodiments, cube 100 may transmitresults of comparison to a server 205 for further processing ofcomparison data. In some of these embodiments, server 205 may thentransmit processed data to external computational machine to produce arepresentation of processed data.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of an exemplary visual display of data asprocessed by a cube 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In some embodiments, a cube 100 may be connected, by awireless and/or wired connection, to a computational machine having ameans of display and/or a means of connecting to a display device. Insome alternative embodiments, cube 100 may have intrinsic means ofdisplay. In the present embodiment, a display 305 may provideillustration of individual data samples 310. In a non-limiting example,a data sample 310 may represent an emotion. In the present non-limitingexample, a data sample 310 representing an emotion may raise and loweraccording to received EPG data from environment, user input, etc. Insome embodiments, data samples 310 may represent data in any form,including, without limitation, colors, words, bars, etc. In the presentembodiment, display 305 may have a ring 315 which may indicate intensityof various data samples 310. In some embodiments, ring 315 may be aplasma ring. In some embodiments, the plasma ring may comprise eightcolors that varies in intensity and size based on the level of eightprimal emotions felt by the artificial intelligence (AI) of cube 100. Ina non-limiting example, individual emotions may be represented bytextual words, and size of the textual words may indicate intensity ofthe emotions. In the present non-limiting example, data regardingemotions may be an EPG computed by a server 205 and transmitted to acomputational machine. In some embodiments, aesthetic of ring 315 maychange as a result of received data. In a non-limiting example, areceived EPG may show a high level of a particular emotion, e.g. joy,which may change color of ring 315 to represent raised levels of thatparticular emotion. In some embodiments, received data may causephysical actions in the cube 100. In a non-limiting example, a receivedEPG showing a high level of a particular emotion, e.g. anger, may causecube 100 to vibrate. In some embodiments, cube 100 and/or externalcomputational machine may utilize other means, including, withoutlimitation, audio, video, heat generation, etc., to represent receiveddata. In a non-limiting example, a cube 100 may emit sounds in varyingvolumes and/or pitches depending on which particular emotions it maydetermine to represent.

In some embodiments, cube 100 and/or other hardware integrated with cube100 may have a variety of means for receiving data, including, withoutlimitation, input from user (text, image, video, audio file, etc.),motion sensing, pulse measurement, heat sensing, facial detection, etc.In a non-limiting example, cube 100 may have a gyroscope andaccelerometer that may enable cube 100 to detect motion.

Some embodiments may provide a software development kit (SDK) for usewith external computational machines to effectively run embodimentsoftware. In some of these embodiments, SDK may provide a set of toolsthat may enable users of an external computational machine to representprocessed data from an embodiment server 205 and/or cube 100. In anon-limiting example, tools may include, but not limited to, OPENCV,OPENEAR, CLEVERBOT, and DRAGON VOICE. In another non-limiting example,hardware manufacturers of devices such as, but not limited to, for homesecurity, entertainment, and environment, health and fitness, etc., mayprovide SDKs to add functionalities to cube 100. In the presentnon-limiting example these device may communicate with cube 100 viavarious means such as, but not limited to, mobile phone or tablet,Bluetooth, directly via intranet or internet, etc. In anothernon-limiting example, a new SDK or functionalities may be added by auser in the form of apps downloaded from an online app store that wouldadd new functionalities to cube 100 or the user application that may runon a tablet or smartphone.

In a non-limiting example, an SDK may enable a computational machine todetect and receive internal emotional reactions, user's emotional state,and/or surrounding environmental conditions and to communicatebi-directionally with a server 205. In the present non-limiting example,computational machine may receive emotional signals in a form of an EPGand SDK may process EPG prior to transmitting EPG data to server 205.

In some embodiments, embodiment software may be in a form ofmachine-executable applications which may be downloaded onto variouscomputational machines. In some of these embodiments, downloadedapplications may use a computational machine's components forinstallation and/or processing of information received from surroundingenvironments and/or other sources. In many embodiments, afterinstallation of software applications onto a machine, the machine mayreceive signals from surrounding environment, process received signals,and/or transmit signals to a server 205 or other location. In some ofthese embodiments, after server 205 has performed processing oftransmitted signals, server 205 may then transmit signals back to themachine. In one or more of these embodiments, the machine may displayreceived data in a variety of ways, including, without limitation,movement of parts, voice pitch, color, words, etc.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary internal system of a cube 100and/or associated devices, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. In the present embodiment, cube 100 may have anysuitable operating system 405. In a non-limiting example, cube 100 mayhave an Android Jelly Bean operating system 405 that has a nativelibrary that may access information from various services. In otherembodiments, cube 100 may incorporate other operating systems. In thepresent embodiment, embodiment software may be stored in a coreapplication 410 which may be suitable for receiving user input. In someof these embodiments, core application 410 may receive user inputthrough a variety of input-detection software 415 and/or hardware,including, without limitation, speech recognition software and/or textto speech dragon. In some embodiments, core application 410 may have anysuitable operating system, including, without limitation,Unity+XBMC+PORTSIP. In the present embodiment, core application 410 mayhave a variety of internal systems, including, without limitation:facial detection SDK 420; media player 425; component object model (COM)430; unity 3D plugin 435; EPU 440; chat engine 445; audio/video/textfunctionality 450; robot interfacing functionality 455; home automation460; audio analysis 465; and means for connecting local databases 470.These systems may add functionalities and sensors to cube 100. Thesesystems may communicate between each other directly, via cube 100 or viaa server. As a non-limiting example, robot interfacing functionality 455may use a URBI SDK to enable communication between cube 100 and a robot.In some embodiments, internal systems may communicate bi-directionallywith each other as needed and/or as shown in FIG. 4. In the presentembodiment, core application 410 may communicate bi-directionally withvarious external systems, including, without limitation, IP cameras 475,communication and/or wearable physical measurement devices 480, andlocal databases 485.

In some embodiments, cube 100 may have one or more motherboards. In anon-limiting example, a cube 100 may have a motherboard with alloperating system functionalities (Wi-Fi etc.). In the presentnon-limiting example, cube 100 may also have a motherboard that maysupport any LED systems and/or an EPU. In some embodiments, cube 100 maynot communicate with other systems other than a video input and audioinput/output. In other embodiments, cube 100 may communicate withexternal systems for personalized access to services such as, but notlimited to, the web.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary method for registering cube100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In thepresent embodiment, a user may turn on a cube 100 in a step 505. In someembodiments, user may turn on cube 100 by means of a power switch oncube 100 surface. In other embodiments, user may turn on cube 100 byremote means. In some embodiments, cube 100 may perform variousanimations at start-up. In the present embodiment, cube 100 operatingsystem may activate in a step 510. In some embodiments, operating systemmay utilize multiple types of connecting technology, including, withoutlimitation, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In the present embodiment, cube 100operating system may directly load core application 410 in a step 515.Further, in the present embodiment, core application 410 may determinewhether user may have access to any connecting technologies in a step520. Still further, in the present embodiment, if user has access to atleast one connecting technology, cube 100 may connect to server 205 in astep 525. In the present embodiment, server 205 may determine whetheruser is registered in a step 530. In some embodiments, each cube 100 mayhave a unique ID. In a non-limiting example, an EPU microcontroller in acube 100 may have a unique ID to identify EPU's corresponding cube 100.In some embodiments, a user ID may be paired with a cube 100 ID. In manyembodiments, server 205 may synchronize with external internetplatforms. In a non-limiting example, a server 205 may utilize a user'sFacebook login information as user's login information for accessingcube 100. In the present embodiment, if user is registered, user maylogin in a step 535. Further, in the present embodiment, user mayactivate machine-readable application on a computational machine in astep 540. In some embodiments, users may use any suitable computationalmachine, including, without limitation, smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.In many embodiments, cube 100 may record various data to use inidentifying and/or communicating with user. In a non-limiting example,cube 100 may record user's facial pattern and voice to be able to usethese to identify user later. In some embodiments, server 205 mayconnect to various networks to uncover data about user. In anon-limiting example, server 205 may use localization data to determinelocation of cube 100. In the present embodiment, application may promptuser to select a connection type in a step 545. In some embodiments,users may select individual or multiple connection types. In the presentembodiment, cube 100 and application may synchronize in a step 550.Further, in the present embodiment, server 205 may prompt user for logininformation. In some embodiments, login information may be related to anexternal internet platform, including, without limitation, Facebook,Twitter, etc. In some of these embodiments, server 205 may use user'slogin information to synchronize with external internet platforms. In anon-limiting example, server 205 may determine user's Facebook friendlist, upload photos, etc. In some embodiments, each cube 100 may bepaired with a unique identifier so that each cube 100 may have only oneowner. In a non-limiting example, when a user buys a cube 100, user mayreceive a number which he may input to cube 100.

In some embodiments, application 410 may have a core component forcommunications, including, without limitation, SOFTPHONE. In someembodiments, core application 410 may have SOFTPHONE and/or othersimilar library to allow it to be connected in audio/video data. In manyembodiments, application 410 may have one or more plugins, including,without limitation, Unity and XBMC. As a non-limiting example, pluginslike XBMC may manage all media for the user and act like a media playerthat cube 100 may control to show media to the user. SOFTPHONE may allowthe user from his tablet to do a video call to cube 100. Unity 3D mayallow cube 100 to represent the eye of the AI to visually see inreal-time what the default personality of the AI learned from the expertsystem, what emotion the AI detects from the user in real time, and whatthe AI feels based on the interaction between the personality learnedand what it detects as emotional inputs from the interaction with theworld or it's memory of past events. In some of these embodiments, cube100 may determine Unity plugin of display 305 via a data link. In anon-limiting example, a small cube 100 position, bar graph levels, andcolors may be set via data link. In another non-limiting example, a leftside of a screen may show a video feed of a user for user's camera and aright side of a screen may display a texture of what cube 100 may decideto show. In some embodiments, users may adjust positioning of componentson a display screen of a computational machine. In some of theseembodiments, application 410 may utilize XBMC code plugin structure. Ina non-limiting example, if a user wants to use a full-screen mode,software may switch to XBMC or other suitable media player. In someembodiments, application 410 may always be running various components,including, without limitation, XBMC and Unity. In some of theseembodiments, software may XBMC video on top of Unity and show or hideXBMC to be able to switch from one to another. In some alternativeembodiments, each cube includes a unique EPG and a unique emotionalsensibility. In which case, all cubes may have access to aspecially-designed grid via severs, where they may meet and interact.Their unique EPG will act like a “magnet”, attracting other cubes with acompatible EPGs. Such that, Cubes with similar affinities will connectand share similar media and information together.

In many embodiments, system may allow for automatic pairing between cube100 and a user device using various connecting technology, including,without limitation, Bluetooth. In some of these embodiments, system mayalso perform demo applications to make auto-pairing between two deviceswhich may first pair to specific device without confirmation and/or pushWi-Fi detail to a connected device.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of an exemplary display of visual emotionaldetection, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Inthe present embodiment, visual emotional detector may have be suitablefor representing a variety of emotions, including, without limitation,joy 605, trust 610, fear 615, surprise 620, sadness 625, disgust 630,anger 635, and interest 640. In some embodiments, various components ofdetector may be affected depending on user input. In a non-limitingexample, if a user says “I hate you” to cube 100, visual emotionaldetection may show a response to statement by adjusting size of bars 645in bar graph and color of cube 100. In some embodiments, responses fromsoftware may be different depending on adjustments made in response touser actions. In one embodiment, system may utilize various third-partysources to further add to emotional intelligence of software. In anon-limiting example, the system may use OpenEAR to add emotiondetection in a voice using pitch, and/or harmonic analysis toestimate/infer emotional status/states. In another non-limiting example,system may use YouTube downloader to stream video into XBMC. In someembodiments, cube 100 may emit, through ripples, a variety of colors. Ina non-limiting example, a cube 100 may emit 32 million colors, which mayall be synchronized with color of an iris.

In some embodiments, software may utilize a conversational engine toallow software to converse with users. In some of these embodiments,software may draw data from history of user actions, statements, and/orphysical readings as well as from internet sources such as Google andWikipedia. In a non-limiting example, in response to a user statement,software may search user's previous conversations to determine anappropriate response.

Some embodiments may utilize emotional pathways. In a non-limitingexample, each set of data may be saved with a unique vEPG time stamp. Inthe present non-limiting example, software may develop connectionsbetween sets of data and/or time stamps to create emotional pathwaysbetween data.

One embodiment may be suitable for use in recording audio stories. Insome of these embodiments, system may integrate an audio SDK which mayanalyze sound in real time. In a non-limiting example, parents mayrecord a story that may be read to a child at night. In the presentnon-limiting example, cube 100 may replay story to child and maygradually lower volume until child falls asleep. Further, in the presentnon-limiting example, if child wakes up during a night, cube 100 maydetect child's fear and search for a suitable story which may be used tocalm child.

In some embodiments, cube 100 may use a synchronization with an externalinternet platform to allow user to record information from suchplatforms. In a non-limiting example, a cube 100 may record events froma user's Facebook timeline. In another non-limiting example, cube 100may access an external joke database to be able to use subject-specificjokes during conversations about a particular subject. In still anothernon-limiting example, cube 100 may create an XBMC plugin based on aYouTube video to allow user to watch video from Vevo and play withoutads. In yet another non-limiting example, cube 100 may connect to a homeautomation device with an open API from Nest or NinjaSphere to allowcube 100 to control user's house. In another non-limiting example, cube100 may connect to a wearable physical measurement device to monitor auser's blood pressure, oxygen level, etc. In the present non-limitingexample, such measurements may be used in determining user's emotions aswell as is offering recommendations to promote user's health. In someembodiments, cube 100 may control, without limitation, virtual avatars,video games, and physical electronic objects.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of an exemplary method for performingartificial intelligence, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. In the present embodiment, a cube 100 may receive datarelevant to discerning information about a user in a step 705. In someembodiments, cube 100 may be suitable for receiving data regarding auser's emotions. In some embodiments, data may come from a variety ofsources, including, without limitation, user input, physical measurementdevices (e.g. heart rate monitor), environmental information (e.g. timeof day, date, weather), etc. In a non-limiting example, a user may typea message which may indicate that user is angry. In another non-limitingexample, a heart rate monitor may indicate that a user has an unusuallyhigh heart rate which may indicate that user is angry. In the presentembodiment, cube 100 may compare received data to stored data in a step710. Further, in the present embodiment, cube 100 may use received dataand/or comparison information to determine user's indication of avariety of emotions in a step 715. In a non-limiting example, cube 100may compare heart rate monitor data to user's historical heart ratemonitor data, and if user's heart rate is similar to previous instanceswhen user was angry, cube 100 may use such information in determining ifuser may be angry. In another non-limiting example, if is user'sbirthday and user's historical data shows that user has often feltsadness on user's birthday, cube 100 may use such information indetermining if user may be sad. In the present embodiment, cube 100 maydetermine an appropriate response based on findings in a step 720. In anon-limiting example, if cube 100 determines that user may be sad, cube100 may issue a message to user which may cheer user up. In the presentnon-limiting example, cube 100 may search historic data to locateprevious instances when a message may indicated that user was cheered bymessage, and cube 100 may provide a same or similar message. The statusof the user and the response provided may be recorded in a step 725along with updating of the AI emotional profile in the learning process.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, that any of theforegoing steps and/or system modules may be suitably replaced,reordered, removed and additional steps and/or system modules may beinserted depending upon the needs of the particular application, andthat the systems of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented usingany of a wide variety of suitable processes and system modules, and isnot limited to any particular computer hardware, software, middleware,firmware, microcode and the like. For any method steps described in thepresent application that can be carried out on a computing machine, atypical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed,serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention maybe embodied.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an exemplary emotion processing unit andassociated internal systems, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention. In the present embodiment, emotion processing unit(EPU) 840 may communicate bi-directionally with internal systems,including, without limitation: facial emotion detection 805; textemotion detection 810; voice emotion detection 815; and bio sensoremotion detector 820. The internal systems receive inputs from varioussensors that are observing a user's reactions and inputs to cube 100.Detected emotions from the internal systems may be transferred to EPU840. EPU 840 may receive access and receive vEPG from experienced datahistory from user database 835 and EPG of the AI emotional database 825.In some embodiments, these databases are maintained within cube 100. Insome embodiments these databases accessed from an external server. EPU840 may use detected emotions from one or more of the internal systemsalong with data from the databases to calculate an appropriate responsein substantially real-time. The calculated response may be communicatedto other systems within cube 100 and/or external systems. In manyembodiments, EPU 840 may algorithms and/or models to process thedetected emotions using at least two of the primary human emotions. As anon-limiting example, the primary human emotions may include, but notlimited to, faith, trust, confident, tense, fear, terrify, distract,surprise, amaze, pensive, sad, depress, bored, disgust, hate, annoyed,anger, rage, excite, great high, harmony, happy, ecstasy, love, submit,awe, refuse, regret, contempt, aggressive, optimist, etc. In someembodiments, EPU 840 may calculate the user emotion level (EPG). In someembodiments, EPU 840 may calculate the AI emotion level (EPG). In someembodiments, EPU 840 may calculate the user and AI emotion level (EPG).In some embodiments, the databases are updated/modified with thecalculated responses and/or emotion levels. In many embodiments, the AIdoes not simply respond based on the user emotional profile but on itsown profile that the AI will create based on all its experience(emotional machine learning). The AI will develop its own sensibilityand all emotional inputs will in real-time affect and modify itsemotional status and EPG.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary client/server systemwhich may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment ofthe present invention.

A communication system 900 includes a multiplicity of clients with asampling of clients denoted as a client 902 and a client 904, amultiplicity of local networks with a sampling of networks denoted as alocal network 906 and a local network 908, a global network 910 and amultiplicity of servers with a sampling of servers denoted as a server912 and a server 914.

Client 902 may communicate bi-directionally with local network 906 via acommunication channel 916. Client 904 may communicate bi-directionallywith local network 908 via a communication channel 918. Local network906 may communicate bi-directionally with global network 910 via acommunication channel 920. Local network 908 may communicatebi-directionally with global network 910 via a communication channel922. Global network 910 may communicate bi-directionally with server 912and server 914 via a communication channel 924. Server 912 and server914 may communicate bi-directionally with each other via communicationchannel 924. Furthermore, clients 902, 904, local networks 906, 908,global network 910 and servers 912, 914 may each communicatebi-directionally with each other.

In one embodiment, global network 910 may operate as the Internet. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that communication system900 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examples of forms forcommunication system 900 include local area networks (LANs), wide areanetworks (WANs), wired telephone networks, wireless networks, or anyother network supporting data communication between respective entities.

Clients 902 and 904 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examplesof clients 902 and 904 include personal computers, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), cellular phones and smartphones.

Client 902 includes a CPU 926, a pointing device 928, a keyboard 930, amicrophone 932, a printer 934, a memory 936, a mass memory storage 938,a GUI 940, a video camera 942, an input/output interface 944, and anetwork interface 946.

CPU 926, pointing device 928, keyboard 930, microphone 932, printer 934,memory 936, mass memory storage 938, GUI 940, video camera 942,input/output interface 944 and network interface 946 may communicate ina unidirectional manner or a bi-directional manner with each other via acommunication channel 948. Communication channel 948 may be configuredas a single communication channel or a multiplicity of communicationchannels.

CPU 926 may be comprised of a single processor or multiple processors.CPU 926 may be of various types including micro-controllers (e.g., withembedded RAM/ROM) and microprocessors such as programmable devices(e.g., RISC or SISC based, or CPLDs and FPGAs) and devices not capableof being programmed such as gate array ASICs (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits) or general purpose microprocessors.

As is well known in the art, memory 936 is used typically to transferdata and instructions to CPU 926 in a bi-directional manner. Memory 936,as discussed previously, may include any suitable computer-readablemedia, intended for data storage, such as those described aboveexcluding any wired or wireless transmissions unless specifically noted.Mass memory storage 938 may also be coupled bi-directionally to CPU 926and provides additional data storage capacity and may include any of thecomputer-readable media described above. Mass memory storage 938 may beused to store programs, data and the like and is typically a secondarystorage medium such as a hard disk. It will be appreciated that theinformation retained within mass memory storage 938, may, in appropriatecases, be incorporated in standard fashion as part of memory 936 asvirtual memory.

CPU 926 may be coupled to GUI 940. GUI 940 enables a user to view theoperation of computer operating system and software. CPU 926 may becoupled to pointing device 928. Non-limiting examples of pointing device928 include computer mouse, trackball and touchpad. Pointing device 928enables a user with the capability to maneuver a computer cursor aboutthe viewing area of GUI 940 and select areas or features in the viewingarea of GUI 940. CPU 926 may be coupled to keyboard 930. Keyboard 930enables a user with the capability to input alphanumeric textualinformation to CPU 926. CPU 926 may be coupled to microphone 932.Microphone 932 enables audio produced by a user to be recorded,processed and communicated by CPU 926. CPU 926 may be connected toprinter 934. Printer 934 enables a user with the capability to printinformation to a sheet of paper. CPU 926 may be connected to videocamera 942. Video camera 942 enables video produced or captured by userto be recorded, processed and communicated by CPU 926.

CPU 926 may also be coupled to input/output interface 944 that connectsto one or more input/output devices such as such as CD-ROM, videomonitors, track balls, mice, keyboards, microphones, touch-sensitivedisplays, transducer card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers,tablets, styluses, voice or handwriting recognizers, or other well-knowninput devices such as, of course, other computers.

Finally, CPU 926 optionally may be coupled to network interface 946which enables communication with an external device such as a databaseor a computer or telecommunications or internet network using anexternal connection shown generally as communication channel 916, whichmay be implemented as a hardwired or wireless communications link usingsuitable conventional technologies. With such a connection, CPU 926might receive information from the network, or might output informationto a network in the course of performing the method steps described inthe teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram depicting a conventionalclient/server communication system.

A communication system 1000 includes a multiplicity of networked regionswith a sampling of regions denoted as a network region 1002 and anetwork region 1004, a global network 1006 and a multiplicity of serverswith a sampling of servers denoted as a server device 1008 and a serverdevice 1010.

Network region 1002 and network region 1004 may operate to represent anetwork contained within a geographical area or region. Non-limitingexamples of representations for the geographical areas for the networkedregions may include postal zip codes, telephone area codes, states,counties, cities and countries. Elements within network region 1002 and1004 may operate to communicate with external elements within othernetworked regions or within elements contained within the same networkregion.

In some implementations, global network 1006 may operate as theInternet. It will be understood by those skilled in the art thatcommunication system 1000 may take many different forms. Non-limitingexamples of forms for communication system 1000 include local areanetworks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), wired telephone networks,cellular telephone networks or any other network supporting datacommunication between respective entities via hardwired or wirelesscommunication networks. Global network 1006 may operate to transferinformation between the various networked elements.

Server device 1008 and server device 1010 may operate to executesoftware instructions, store information, support database operationsand communicate with other networked elements. Non-limiting examples ofsoftware and scripting languages which may be executed on server device1008 and server device 1010 include C, C++, C # and Java.

Network region 1002 may operate to communicate bi-directionally withglobal network 1006 via a communication channel 1012. Network region1004 may operate to communicate bi-directionally with global network1006 via a communication channel 1014. Server device 1008 may operate tocommunicate bi-directionally with global network 1006 via acommunication channel 1016. Server device 1010 may operate tocommunicate bi-directionally with global network 1006 via acommunication channel 1018. Network region 1002 and 1004, global network1006 and server devices 1008 and 1010 may operate to communicate witheach other and with every other networked device located withincommunication system 1000.

Server device 1008 includes a networking device 1020 and a server 1022.Networking device 1020 may operate to communicate bi-directionally withglobal network 1006 via communication channel 1016 and with server 1022via a communication channel 1024.

Server 1022 may operate to execute software instructions and storeinformation. Network region 1002 includes a multiplicity of clients witha sampling denoted as a client 1026 and a client 1028. Client 1026includes a networking device 1034, a processor 1036, a GUI 1038 and aninterface device 1040. Non-limiting examples of devices for GUI 1038include monitors, televisions, cellular telephones, smartphones and PDAs(Personal Digital Assistants). Non-limiting examples of interface device1040 include pointing device, mouse, trackball, scanner and printer.Networking device 1034 may communicate bi-directionally with globalnetwork 1006 via communication channel 1012 and with processor 1036 viaa communication channel 1042. GUI 1038 may receive information fromprocessor 1036 via a communication channel 1044 for presentation to auser for viewing. Interface device 1040 may operate to send controlinformation to processor 1036 and to receive information from processor1036 via a communication channel 1046. Network region 1004 includes amultiplicity of clients with a sampling denoted as a client 1030 and aclient 1032. Client 1030 includes a networking device 1048, a processor1050, a GUI 1052 and an interface device 1054. Non-limiting examples ofdevices for GUI 1038 include monitors, televisions, cellular telephones,smartphones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). Non-limitingexamples of interface device 1040 include pointing devices, mousse,trackballs, scanners and printers. Networking device 1048 maycommunicate bi-directionally with global network 1006 via communicationchannel 1014 and with processor 1050 via a communication channel 1056.GUI 1052 may receive information from processor 1050 via a communicationchannel 1058 for presentation to a user for viewing. Interface device1054 may operate to send control information to processor 1050 and toreceive information from processor 1050 via a communication channel1060.

For example, consider the case where a user interfacing with client 1026may want to execute a networked application. A user may enter the IP(Internet Protocol) address for the networked application usinginterface device 1040. The IP address information may be communicated toprocessor 1036 via communication channel 1046. Processor 1036 may thencommunicate the IP address information to networking device 1034 viacommunication channel 1042. Networking device 1034 may then communicatethe IP address information to global network 1006 via communicationchannel 1012. Global network 1006 may then communicate the IP addressinformation to networking device 1020 of server device 1008 viacommunication channel 1016. Networking device 1020 may then communicatethe IP address information to server 1022 via communication channel1024. Server 1022 may receive the IP address information and afterprocessing the IP address information may communicate return informationto networking device 1020 via communication channel 1024. Networkingdevice 1020 may communicate the return information to global network1006 via communication channel 1016. Global network 1006 may communicatethe return information to networking device 1034 via communicationchannel 1012. Networking device 1034 may communicate the returninformation to processor 1036 via communication channel 1042. Processor1046 may communicate the return information to GUI 1038 viacommunication channel 1044. User may then view the return information onGUI 1038.

It will be further apparent to those skilled in the art that at least aportion of the novel method steps and/or system components of thepresent invention may be practiced and/or located in location(s)possibly outside the jurisdiction of the United States of America (USA),whereby it will be accordingly readily recognized that at least a subsetof the novel method steps and/or system components in the foregoingembodiments must be practiced within the jurisdiction of the USA for thebenefit of an entity therein or to achieve an object of the presentinvention. Thus, some alternate embodiments of the present invention maybe configured to comprise a smaller subset of the foregoing means forand/or steps described that the applications designer will selectivelydecide, depending upon the practical considerations of the particularimplementation, to carry out and/or locate within the jurisdiction ofthe USA. For example, any of the foregoing described method steps and/orsystem components which may be performed remotely over a network (e.g.,without limitation, a remotely located server) may be performed and/orlocated outside of the jurisdiction of the USA while the remainingmethod steps and/or system components (e.g., without limitation, alocally located client) of the forgoing embodiments are typicallyrequired to be located/performed in the USA for practicalconsiderations. In client-server architectures, a remotely locatedserver typically generates and transmits required information to a USbased client, for use according to the teachings of the presentinvention. Depending upon the needs of the particular application, itwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of theteachings of the present invention, which aspects of the presentinvention can or should be located locally and which can or should belocated remotely. Thus, for any claims construction of the followingclaim limitations that are construed under 35 USC.sctn.112 (6) it isintended that the corresponding means for and/or steps for carrying outthe claimed function are the ones that are locally implemented withinthe jurisdiction of the USA, while the remaining aspect(s) performed orlocated remotely outside the USA are not intended to be construed under35 USC.sctn.112 (6). In some embodiments, the methods and/or systemcomponents which may be located and/or performed remotely include,without limitation: synthetic emotion and machine learning, patternsidentification, and algorithms.

It is noted that according to USA law, all claims must be set forth as acoherent, cooperating set of limitations that work in functionalcombination to achieve a useful result as a whole. Accordingly, for anyclaim having functional limitations interpreted under 35 USC.sctn.112(6) where the embodiment in question is implemented as a client-serversystem with a remote server located outside of the USA, each suchrecited function is intended to mean the function of combining, in alogical manner, the information of that claim limitation with at leastone other limitation of the claim. For example, in client-server systemswhere certain information claimed under 35 USC.sctn.112 (6) is/(are)dependent on one or more remote servers located outside the USA, it isintended that each such recited function under 35 USC.sctn.112 (6) is tobe interpreted as the function of the local system receiving theremotely generated information required by a locally implemented claimlimitation, wherein the structures and or steps which enable, and breathlife into the expression of such functions claimed under 35 USC.sctn.112(6) are the corresponding steps and/or means located within thejurisdiction of the USA that receive and deliver that information to theclient (e.g., without limitation, client-side processing andtransmission networks in the USA). When this application is prosecutedor patented under a jurisdiction other than the USA, then “USA” in theforegoing should be replaced with the pertinent country or countries orlegal organization(s) having enforceable patent infringementjurisdiction over the present application, and “35 USC.sctn.112 (6)”should be replaced with the closest corresponding statute in the patentlaws of such pertinent country or countries or legal organization(s).

All the features disclosed in this specification, including anyaccompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternativefeatures serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unlessexpressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise,each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series ofequivalent or similar features.

It is noted that according to USA law 35 USC.sctn.112 (1), all claimsmust be supported by sufficient disclosure in the present patentspecification, and any material known to those skilled in the art neednot be explicitly disclosed. However, 35 USC.sctn.112 (6) requires thatstructures corresponding to functional limitations interpreted under 35USC.sctn.112 (6) must be explicitly disclosed in the patentspecification. Moreover, the USPTO's Examination policy of initiallytreating and searching prior art under the broadest interpretation of a“mean for” claim limitation implies that the broadest initial search on112(6) functional limitation would have to be conducted to support alegally valid Examination on that USPTO policy for broadestinterpretation of “mean for” claims. Accordingly, the USPTO will havediscovered a multiplicity of prior art documents including disclosure ofspecific structures and elements which are suitable to act ascorresponding structures to satisfy all functional limitations in thebelow claims that are interpreted under 35 USC.sctn.112 (6) when suchcorresponding structures are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoingpatent specification. Therefore, for any inventionelement(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s),in the below claims interpreted under 35 USC.sctn.112 (6), which is/arenot explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, yet doexist in the patent and/or non-patent documents found during the courseof USPTO searching, Applicant(s) incorporate all such functionallycorresponding structures and related enabling material herein byreference for the purpose of providing explicit structures thatimplement the functional means claimed. Applicant(s) request(s) thatfact finders during any claims construction proceedings and/orexamination of patent allowability properly identify and incorporateonly the portions of each of these documents discovered during thebroadest interpretation search of 35 USC.sctn.112 (6) limitation, whichexist in at least one of the patent and/or non-patent documents foundduring the course of normal USPTO searching and or supplied to the USPTOduring prosecution. Applicant(s) also incorporate by reference thebibliographic citation information to identify all such documentscomprising functionally corresponding structures and related enablingmaterial as listed in any PTO Form-892 or likewise any informationdisclosure statements (IDS) entered into the present patent applicationby the USPTO or Applicant(s) or any 3.sup.rd parties. Applicant(s) alsoreserve its right to later amend the present application to explicitlyinclude citations to such documents and/or explicitly include thefunctionally corresponding structures which were incorporate byreference above.

Thus, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding tofunctional claim limitation(s), in the below claims, that areinterpreted under 35 USC.sctn.112 (6), which is/are not explicitlydisclosed in the foregoing patent specification, Applicant(s) haveexplicitly prescribed which documents and material to include theotherwise missing disclosure, and have prescribed exactly which portionsof such patent and/or non-patent documents should be incorporated bysuch reference for the purpose of satisfying the disclosure requirementsof 35 USC.sctn.112 (6). Applicant(s) note that all the identifieddocuments above which are incorporated by reference to satisfy 35USC.sctn.112 (6) necessarily have a filing and/or publication date priorto that of the instant application, and thus are valid prior documentsto incorporated by reference in the instant application.

Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention,other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing artificialintelligence according to the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Various aspects of the invention have beendescribed above by way of illustration, and the specific embodimentsdisclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particularforms disclosed. The particular implementation of the artificialintelligence may vary depending upon the particular context orapplication. By way of example, and not limitation, the artificialintelligence described in the foregoing were principally directed toemotion implementations; however, similar techniques may instead beapplied to other useful implementations, such as, without limitation,intelligent search engines, intelligent scheduling and/or organizingsystems, etc., which implementations of the present invention arecontemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The inventionis thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to befurther understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in theforegoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of theobjects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoingspecification.

Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or letteredsolely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numberingand lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken toindicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b)requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the natureand gist of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with theunderstanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret the scopeor meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporatedinto the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as aseparate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising the steps of: monitoring at least one input into a system and detecting at least one action from a user; identifying at least one detected action; accessing at least a first machine readable memory location to retrieve at least one emotional behavior associated with said system, said at least one emotional behavior being based at least in part upon a certain emotional profile associated with said system; processing the at least one detected action in a computational machine using data from said system emotional profile to determine a status of the user; and calculating a response to the status of the user, said response comprising an emotional response that is at least partly determined based on the status of the user and data contained in said system emotional profile.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of: generating emotional profile related information at least partially associated with said user; identifying at least one user detected action; processing said at least one detected action using data from said user emotional profile to determine a status of the user; and calculating a response to said status of the user, said response being determined at least partially based upon said status of the user and data in said system emotional profile.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1, in which the response further comprises visually displaying one or more emotions.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of generating experiential emotional memories based at least in part upon said user monitoring, said calculated user status, and/or said detected at least one action from the user, said emotional memories being stored into a computer readable storage location.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1, in which said monitoring further comprises using pitch and harmonics of the voice to infer an emotional assessment of said user.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1, in which said monitoring further comprises facial recognition.
 7. The method as recited in claim 1, in which said monitoring further comprises voice recognition.
 8. The method as recited in claim 1, in which said monitoring further comprises bio sensor detection.
 9. A system comprising: at least one sensor unit, said at least one sensor unit being configured for detecting an action from a user; a first computer readable storage location configured to store at least one emotional behavior associated with said system; and a processing unit in communication with said at least one sensor and said first computer readable storage location, said processing unit being configured for: identifying at least one detected action and responding to said at least one detected action, said responding being at least partially based upon using emotional behavior related data from said first computer readable storage location to determine a status of the user and calculating a response to said status of the user, said response at least in part being based upon said status of the user and emotional behavior related data contained in said first computer readable storage location.
 10. The system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a second storage location, said storage location being configured with emotional profile related information at least partially associated with said user, and in which said processing unit is configured to be in communication with said second storage location storing said user related emotional profile, said processing unit being configured for: identifying at least one detected action; processing said at least one detected action using data from said user emotional profile to determine a status of the user; and calculating a response to said status of the user, said response at least in part being determined by said status of the user and data contained in said second computer readable storage location.
 11. The system as recited in claim 10, in which said processing unit is further configured for storing said status of the user and said response in said system emotional profile and updating said second computer readable storage location, in which said at least one sensor unit further comprises a facial recognition unit, a voice recognition unit, and a bio sensor detection unit, in which said response comprises a visual display of one or more emotions, control data for one or more devices, and a communication with one or more computational devices.
 12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs one or more processors to perform the following steps: monitoring inputs, into a system, for detected actions from a user; identifying at least one detected action; accessing at least a system emotional profile associated with the user, the system emotional profile at least configured for storage of emotional profiles of the user; accessing at least a second computer readable storage location associated with the system, the second computer readable storage location at least configured for storage of emotional profiles of the system; processing the at least one detected action in a computational machine using data from the system emotional profile to determine a status of the user; and calculating a response to the status of the user, the response at least in part being determined by the status of the user and data contained in the second computer readable storage location.
 13. The program instructing the processor as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of storing the status of the user and the response in the system emotional profile.
 14. The program instructing the processor as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of updating the second computer readable storage location.
 15. The program instructing the processor as recited in claim 12, in which the response comprises a visual display of one or more emotions.
 16. The program instructing the processor as recited in claim 12, in which the response comprises control data for one or more devices.
 17. The program instructing the processor as recited in claim 12, in which the response comprises a communication with one or more computational devices.
 18. The program instructing the processor as recited in claim 12, in which said monitoring further comprises facial recognition.
 19. The program instructing the processor as recited in claim 12, in which said monitoring further comprises voice recognition.
 20. The program instructing the processor as recited in claim 12, in which said monitoring further comprises bio sensor detection. 